This year, GQN is running a separate digital contest using JS8Call (website). JS8Call is built on FT8 and adds a conversational keyboard-to-keyboard protocol similar to RTTY. This is ideal for the GQN contest, as it can allow some chit-chat and it is easy to pass the required station data for the logs. JS8Call also offers relay functionality, which opens up possibilities to earn bonus points for acting as a relay.

Draft rules for the 2025 GQN digital contest:

Contest dates:

The monthly digital contests are held two weeks before each GQN event.

Contest times:

Summer: 2100-2230 NZDT

Winter: 2000-2130 NZST

Frequency:

The standard JS8Call frequency of 7.078 MHz USB is in use.

Rules:

1. The power limit is 5W PEP.

2. Points are earned only for QRP to QRP contacts,  meaning both stations must have transmitter output power less than or equal to 5 W PEP. For stations operating QRPp, transmitter output power must be less than or equal to 1 W PEP.

3. Stations worked do not have to be competing in GQN but must comply with Rule 1,   otherwise points cannot be claimed.

4. The mode in use will be JS8Call.

5. To qualify as a portable station, battery power must be used, as well as a non-permanent antenna.

6. For portable contacts, the location can be passed either as map coordinates, Maidenhead locators, NZ map grid reference, SOTA/POTA location, or the common name of the park, hut or area. If Maidenhead locators are exchanged, the use of 10 digit locators is recommended for portable stations, or 8 digit locators for home stations. Check your Maidenhead locator here.

7. To qualify as a QRPp contact, the entirety of the contact should be carried out using 1W or less. Make sure you have reduced power before calling CQ.

8. You cannot work a station twice on both QRP and QRPp power.

9. A DX contact is considered a contact with another station where either the station worked, or the competitor is located outside New Zealand territorial waters.

10. Each station may be worked once per contest. A station may act as relay multiple times, and operators may use the same relay for multiple contacts.

11. Don’t abuse relay stations, please try to keep relay traffic to the minimum necessary for making a contact.

12. Points will be accumulated monthly until the end of each year, then the contest resets on 1 January for the new year.

13. All QSOs should be logged using the built-in logging system in JS8Call. To submit your log, either edit the log file to include only GQN log entries, or simply send the whole js8call_log.adi file and only valid entries will be added to your score. Time should be logged in UTC (JS8Call default). Use the QTH additional field to store location.

14. Any speed may be used. The use of higher speeds is recommended, switching down to slower speeds if SNR is too low. The use of the @QRP built-in group is highly recommended to help highlight participants.

15. All logs shall be sent by email to [email protected] within 14 days of the contest date. Logs can also be submitted via the GQN discord.

16. Contest organiser’s decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Scoring:

Each qualifying contact is worth 10 points. In addition, the following bonus points are available:

Multiple bonus points can be earned per contact. For example, an operator can work QRPp and DX for a total of 16 points.

For stations acting as a relay, the points are per QSO.